Taso Gourtziovalitis

Communication Designer

IASO Gourtziovalitis logo with brown diagonal lines on the top right and bottom left

Authentic | Dynamic | Polished

I Believe in purposeful design rooted in authenticity,
intention, and connection.

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Independent Branding Project

Branding | Graphic Design

A boarding pass for a flight from Athens to Toronto on July 6, 2026, seat 25B, flight number TA118, departing at 12:30, with Greek and Athens-themed design elements on the ticket and mobile boarding pass, along with a reward card, airline logo, and a background with Egypt's pyramids.

Objective: Design a cohesive brand identity and graphic standards that capture a specific brand essence through multiple applications.

Inspired by my Greek heritage, I created Thea, a luxury airline named after the Greek word for "view" and "god." To evoke prestige and history, I integrated the Owl of Athena—a symbol of wisdom and wealth from ancient coins—into a modern, sophisticated mark. Paired with Optima typeface for its classical Roman roots and clean finish, and using a palette of Aegean blues, the brand conveys calm and reliability for high-end travellers.

Passenger airplane at airport gate, with the logo 'THEA' on the fuselage and a blue tail fin with a logo, surrounded by airport vehicles, jet bridges, and terminal building in background.
Empty airplane cabin with rows of gray seats with blue accents, illuminated windows, and a blue-lit ceiling.
A blue wall with a pattern of blue circles containing white minus signs. There is a white logo of an owl with large eyes, sitting on a branch, next to the text 'THE A LOUNGE' in white letters.

Thea Airlines

Thea Airlines

A man and woman dressed in formal airline uniforms standing against a plain white background. The woman is wearing a navy blazer, a white shirt, a navy skirt, black high heels, and a patterned scarf. The man is wearing a navy suit, a white shirt, a patterned tie, and black dress shoes.

Candy Box

Experiential Design

A decorative black box with a fiery design, featuring red and orange flames and stylized flames with flame-shaped figures inside.

Objective: Explore the sensory experience of a mystery snack and translate those feelings into a physical package using spray paint, paper cutting, and custom typography.

I represented a spicy masala puff by focusing on the direct sensation of heat. The design features gradated flames rising from the box, showing the shift from the initial spicy bite to a cooling sensation after. To enhance the bold theme, I used a graffiti-style typeface and black crackle accents for a high-contrast, energetic visual that matches the snack’s intensity.

A colorful, abstract drawing featuring a large red and black Superman logo at the top, with yellow and red fiery explosions below. One explosion has the word 'HOT' inside a black circular shape, and to the right, the words 'NOT' in red surrounded by red flames on a yellow background.
Colorful paper cutouts with zigzag and curly marks, some arranged in a spiral pattern, with other paper scraps around on a table.
A young man with short, light brown hair, wearing a red T-shirt and a dark apron, stands in an art studio looking at a piece of artwork on a table. The studio has art supplies, paint marks on a worktable, and a black door with a sign that reads 'A101b Storage Dust Extractor & Storage' in the background.

Outdoor Independent Film Festival

Graphic Design | Web Design | Print Design

Laptop and smartphone displaying event details for December 12-19, 2026, in Vancouver, BC, with venue information and ticket button, set against a white background.

Objective: Design a professional, branded poster and website for an outdoor film festival that maintain visual consistency across print and digital platforms.

The graphic language for this festival was inspired by mountain slopes to create an adventurous, high-energy aesthetic. The primary challenge was maintaining legibility within a dynamic, angle-centric layout. I solved this on the poster by strategically grouping secondary information into the corners, allowing the hero imagery and branding to remain the focal point. In reflecting on this project, throughout the design process, I tried to over-apply the slope motif and, in the end, had to find a balance to make the design visually clear.

Event poster for the Outdoor Independent Film Festival in Vancouver, BC, featuring a cyclist on a trail in the forest, with logos of sponsors at the top, event details including date December 12-19, 2023, and information to visit the website off.ca.

Magazine

Graphic Design | Typesetting | Layout

An open magazine with articles about Volkswagen cars, featuring several photos of red VW models, interior and steering wheel close-ups, and Volkswagen logos.

Objective: Create a four-page magazine feature utilizing correct typesetting, grid layouts, and editorial design principles.

Refined. Realized. is a feature on the Volkswagen Golf GTI that blends modern editorial aesthetics with retro VW advertising influences. Every design choice mirrors the vehicle’s DNA: the "Tornado Red" accents match the factory paint, and the rounded image frames mimic the car’s signature rims. I selected a bold, italicized header typeface to communicate the power and forward motion central to the GTI’s brand identity.

Luminous Object

Industrial Design | Light Design | Woodworking

Decorative geometric wooden box with intricate cutout patterns on a black surface against a dark gray background.

Objective: Fabricate a "Luminous Object" that explores the intersection of narrative, form, materiality, and value.

Allium Lux (Garlic Light) is a geometric, modern interpretation of the organic shapes found in a head of garlic. I derived the lamp's intricate pattern from an overhead view of peeled garlic cloves, creating a repeat motif that casts unique, organic shadows. To achieve the precision required for the interlocking plywood structure, I utilized laser-cutting technology, transforming a humble kitchen staple into a sophisticated piece of interior lighting.

A young man wearing a green t-shirt and black pants working on a woodworking project at a workshop table with tools and papers, surrounded by shelves filled with woodworking supplies and other workers in the background.
Diagram showing the step-by-step process of drawing a faceted gemstone from various angles, including top, side, front, and back views.
Information poster about the Alilium Lux, a luminous object resembling an abstract, geometric, light-emitting lamp with intricate design, shown from various angles including side, top, and front views.

Extra Ordinary Project

Experiential Design | Display Design | Paper Construction

Two wooden bowling pins and a wooden bowling ball arranged inside a white display case with decorative molding.

Objective: Research and design an engaging, white-paper presentation that expresses the history and experience of a randomly selected object.

After receiving vintage 19th-century wooden dumbbells, I researched the carpentry and gym culture of the era to create a historically relevant display. Since the objects were large, I opted for "less is more.” approach: designing a minimalist plywood-and-cardstock stand that mimics period-accurate woodworking. The simple trim complements the artifacts, keeping focus on their craftsmanship. This project emphasized the value of research in creating authentic, grounded design.

Sketch of a building facade with columns and decorative elements, and a door with shoeprints inside.
A man with dark hair, wearing a black Nike track jacket with white logos on the sleeves, is reaching into an open white refrigerator with a light inside. Inside the fridge, there are two large wooden objects with elongated handles, possibly oars or paddles, leaning against the back wall.
A young man working on a woodworking project in a workshop, measuring and cutting wood pieces with tools.

Parklet

Architecture | Branding | Graphic Design

Design rendering of an outdoor patio area with seating, plants, and a white wall with green lettering that says 'Le Jardin'.

Objective: Design a distinctive public parklet for urban use and develop accompanying promotional graphics for a transit station display.

Le Jardin brings the cultured atmosphere of a French Château Garden to an urban setting. The design features a tri-level layout: a lower cafe-style seating area for social interaction and two upper tiers for quiet reflection among greenery. To manage the flow of traffic across different elevations, I integrated multiple stairways and used maze-inspired masonry patterns—referencing classic garden hedges—to anchor the corners of the space.

Sketches of various rooms and architectural layouts, including a lobby, conference rooms, hallways, and social areas, with furniture and decor details.
Hand-drawn sketches of various interior architectural designs, including arches, tabletops, entryways, and seating arrangements.
Architectural design plan for a small urban garden, showing various views including front, back, left, right, side, sidewalk, and isometric perspectives with layout details, plan view, and street-level elevation.
A street-side outdoor seating area with white metal chairs and tables, surrounded by green hedges and flower beds. There are street lamps, a parked car, and pedestrians in the background.
Design plan for a small outdoor patio with hedges, a bench, table, chairs, and lighting. The plan specifies materials for flooring, platform, lamps and table legs, planters, fencing, table tops, and benches, including limestone tile, brick, black painted iron, limestone, boxwood bush, white marble, and painted wood.
Architectural plan and front elevation of a garden design project called LE JARDIN, showing layout, dimensions, and landscaping details.
Design concept board for a project titled 'Le Jardin,' featuring a large sign with project description, a green and beige patterned surface, and an area with plants and a railing.
Rendering of a modern outdoor space with a white concrete wall that has green lettering reading 'Le Jardin', a small garden with benches and plants, and a building with a patterned decorative wall near a sidewalk, trees, and a street sign that reads 'Langara - 49th Avenue'.

Candy Packaging

Branding | Graphic Design

Celebrating Every Moment Mother's Day

Objective: Create a new adult-oriented candy brand and packaging for mocktail-flavoured sweets, including an original logotype, slogan, and cohesive brand standards.

To reach a mature audience, I based it on the visual identity of bartending artistry and the energy of a cocktail shaker. The logotype and packaging use dynamic patterns and fluid typography to evoke the spirit of a night out.

Two large snack bags, one labeled Espresso Martini Caramels and the other Whiskey Sour Hard Candies, with smaller individual wrappers matching each flavor below them, all branded with 'Shake Up!'
Three packets of Shake Up! gummy candies in lavender, cranberry, and blueberry flavors, positioned against a white background.

Frame of Reference

Experiential Design

Photograph of a person with dark skin wearing a blue garment and hood, standing outdoors with mountains in the background, attached to a wooden frame with hooks and tags.

Objective: Create a 3D visual composition that reflects the experiential context of a random magazine image through emotive storytelling.

Starting with a prompt of a boy draped in fabric and tags, my goal was to extract and amplify the feelings of confusion and the unknown. I mounted the image onto a massive, oversized tag and displayed it at an off-kilter slant. This intentional instability forces the viewer to confront the same sense of confusion, questioning what is actually happening in the image. The ideating process for this project was especially difficult and challenged me to open my mind up and generate abstract yet relevant ideas to eventually land on my final design.

A photo of a magazine page featuring a person with braided hair in an outdoor setting. The page is surrounded by blue fabric and numerous blank tags with a hole reinforced with red and brown, spread around the page on a cutting mat.
Photograph of a person holding a printed image of a woman wrapped in a blue and black patterned blanket with tags hanging from her clothing, set against a mountain landscape background.
Children's drawing of a handball court with blue coloring indicating walls or boundaries, and red markings representing goal areas.
Logo for IASO Gourtziovalitis featuring stylized text with a brown and blue color scheme.
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